Heritage Center getting closer to goal

Fund-raising for the Johnny Appleseed Heritage and Outdoor Arts Center is coming closer to its goals.

At a news conference Thursday at the Westbrook Country Club in Mansfield, a brief video of the future center's site was shown and Bill Jones, the center's founder, officially announced its progress.

"Our goal is $3.8 million, of which $1.7 million is reserved for the cost of the amphitheater; $1.3 million of which is reserved for other costs like classrooms and office space," Jones said. "Of the $3.8 million goal, $800,000 will be reserved as endowment."

Contributing to the list of recent donations was a $100,000 donation from Wayne Walston, vice president of external affairs for Sprint and a Johnny Appleseed Campaign co-chairperson.

"It's a very significant gift," Jones said. "The gift now takes us up to $1.7 million toward our goal. We're now at 45 percent of our goal."

Plans are to build the heritage center and outdoor drama on state Route 603, halfway between Mifflin and state Route 39 in Ashland County.

Ground breaking is expected to take place later this year.

The Johnny Appleseed Heritage Center and Outdoor Historical Drama will offer a two-hour historical drama in a 1,600-seat outdoor amphitheater.

The J.M. Smucker Co. Auditorium and Library, a learning center and an interactive museum focusing on Appleseed's life, the history of the region and the apple industry, will join the amphitheater. The library will feature books not only about Appleseed, but about apples and the apple industry.

In January, February and March 2002, actors from throughout the United States and Canada will be recruited for the historical drama. An artistic director then will work with architects and seamstresses for the final phases of the project.

Jones plans for the drama season to open near June 1 and close on Labor Day of each year.

Once open, he said the center is expected to employ 72 people, attract 65,000 guests per year, operate on a budget of $650,000 and contribute more than $12 million to the economic development of the region.